17 



sfroyed as vegetation penetrates the shallow strata ; further, 

 that trees grow on such spots as might be covered, on emerg- 

 ing from the sea, by cocoanuts, and not on those unsuited 

 for such vegetation, and therefore the absence of fossils 

 inland is no argument against the theory adduced. Again we 

 may also make a general deduction of some value : viz., that 

 in such deposits fossils are not preserved in strata perme- 

 able to vegetation. 



By analogy we can see the gradual change described 

 from the zone where fossils become totally transformed, 

 and undistinguishable, to that of our highest mountains ; 

 and I think we may conclude it is possible, and probable, 

 that those peaks are rocks raised from a former sea, despite 

 the absence of fossils, undisputably establishing it ; and we 

 can at a glance see how uniform has been its upward force, 

 if these elevations occurred from an ocean bed. 



Now, as we find a gradually raised terrace-like country 

 stretching south and south-west, and descending abruptly 

 north and north-east, so we may safely conclude this slow 

 elevatory force acted from south-west to north-east. 



As the north-east elevation proceeded, it is clear from 

 the peculiarly detached and sheltered situation of the re- 

 mains of magnesian strata, that a considerable deposit was 

 once extended over the land, but long since denuded as it 

 became gradually exposed to the action of the waves ;• and 

 since we have no intermediate form, between this and the 

 formation arising from its decomposition and that of the 

 gneiss, that is laterite, and the clays and plumbago found 

 with it, we may safely consider the land began to assume 

 its present farm while a secondary ocean was depositing the 

 strata of the neighbouring continent 



C 



